Category: movie reviews

28. Oppenheimer (2023).

In a word, overrated. The parts about the development of the bomb, and of Los Alamos, was quite well-done and interesting. The rest was kind of a mess. Robert Downey Jr. was entertaining, but that’s about it.
Verdict: Overall, a bloated “meh” from me.

29. The Holdovers (2023)

Just when my Christmas movie rotation was getting a tad stale… What a delight, and what a joy it is to see Paul Giamatti in a role worthy of his enormous talent. Verdict: It’s nice to know they still make movies like this.

30. The Gorgon (1964)

Decent Hammer fare about a gorgon possessing people (there’s one female character so, you know, there goes the mystery) and turning people to stone. In Germany, for some reason.
Verdict: It’s fun to watch good actors having stupid fun with this stuff. I liked it.

25. CAPOTE (2005)

This is a terrific film. There’s something bewitching in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance, which never descends into mimicry, as easy as that would have been. And then there’s nuanced presentation of the plot, which isn’t what it appears to be at first. Great stuff.
Verdict: Highly recommended.

26. BLACK NARCISSUS (1947)

A bunch of nuns are sent to an exotic locale to set up a school for the natives, with predictable results. However the story, slim as it is, is handled so well, with such good performers, artful visuals, and beautiful production values that you’ll walk away believing there’s more to it than there actually is.
Verdict: Definitely recommended

27. AWAY (2019)

A years-long labor of love of one man, Gints Zilbalodis, this is a moving, thoughtful, harrowing, amusing, meditative movie about…that’s kind of up to you. To me, it was about life’s journey, and the inevitability of death, and our spirit’s ability to rise above it. Your mileage may vary: you may find that for you, it’s about something completely different. It’s that kind of movie.
Verdict: Stays with you long after it ends. I need to see it a couple more times. This has Hall of Fame potential.

22. BEYOND MOMBASA (1956)

An incredibly B movie with an incredibly A cast. Cornel Wilde is a devil-may-care adventurer, Donna Reed an uptight (or is she?) churchman’s daughter, and Christopher Lee is a mysterious (and incredibly good looking) French guide. Much cheesy excitement and stock footage of animals ensues. Wilde, in particular, is having a blast .
Verdict: Stupid and fun, if you’re in the mood for that kind of thing, this is your flick.

23. THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH (1963)

One of my great childhood favorites has aged like fine wine and stands as one of Disney’s finest live action efforts, with plenty of appeal for kids and adults alike. Location filming creates terrific atmosphere, and Patrick McGoohan’s brainy, elegant, swashbuckling performance as Dr. Syn, mild-mannered vicar by day, scary masked smuggler by night, is one of my all-time favorites.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame
Watch here: Part I, Part 2, Part 3

24. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1969)

Very long, very slow and suffused with a surreal quality that makes it hard to tell if you are watching it while asleep or not. A strange recommendation, but a wholehearted one. It’s pretty great. Great looking, epic in scope, with a fantastic cast, with Henry Fonda commanding the entire movie playing spectacularly against type as a villain of chilling, inhuman cruelty.
Verdict: It’s easier to watch broken up into multiple viewings. Worth seeing for Fonda’s work alone. And I’m not even a fan of his.

19. WHITE ZOMBIE (1932)

One of the worst acted movies I’ve ever seen (except for Lugosi, who strikes the right tone of genuine menace and glee). The visuals, however, are great and very stylish, and there are moments of genuine creepiness.
Verdict: Pretty awful and pretty fun at the same time, if you know what you’re getting into.

20. HIS ONLY SON (2023)

A low-key, thoughtful take on the story of Abraham and Isaac. It’s nicely done, and although slow, the very quiet yet charismatic performance by Nicolas Mouawad as Abraham keeps you engaged.
Verdict: Slow as molasses, but well acted, and very earnest. Pretty good.

21. STARGATE (1994)

When a movie feels a lot longer than it actually is, that’s not a good sign. And this one feels like it goes on forever. It has its delights, mainly James Spader as a dorky archaeologist with wire-rimmed specs and a fabulous set of surfer bangs. He’s pretty damned good, but he’s not enough.
Verdict: Once was enough. Maybe too much.

16. THE QUIET MAN (1952)

One of my favorite movies, and my favorite female character in any movie, ever. Pure, joyful blarney.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame

17. RISEN (2016)

This has become an Easter tradition at my house. Joseph Fiennes is sensational as a Roman centurion tasked with solving the mystery of the disappearance of Jesus’ body. Starts out as a kind of Biblical police procedural and evolves into something far deeper and more meaningful.
Verdict: Excellent and recommended.

18. LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945)

It’s far from perfect, but when you’ve got the divine Gene Tierney pulling out all the stops as one of cinema’s great sociopaths, Ellen Berent, it’s easy to forgive its flaws. Miraculously, in addition to being a monster, she’s almost unbearably vulnerable. She is sensational, and makes this an absolute must-see.
Verdict: It’s Gene Tierney’s show. The rest is just window dressing.

13. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)

When it’s good, it’s so very good. When it’s not, it’s usually because there’s some stupid romance thing going on. I don’t care, Charlie. Just give me the Little Tramp dealing with the outrageous situations he finds himself in and I’m good. Like his starving roommate trying to kill and eat him for dinner because he thinks he’s a chicken. Classic.
Verdict: Funny is timeless. And a lot of the time, Gold Rush is very funny.

14. PUMAMAN (1980)

One of the greatest of all MST3K outings. There are so many reasons that it soars, but one reason is its immortal flying scenes, the true horribleness of which has yet to be matched. I have linked to the MST3K version of the film, which is just flat-out brilliantly funny.
Verdict: The MST3K version is an inductee in Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame.

15. METEOR (1979)

Mediocre. And dull. But it’s got a great cast, all keeping it professional so it’s got that going for it.
Verdict: A solid meh.

10. DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS

And to think, this could have been a franchise if it hadn’t been such a flop. Well, I did my part. I paid to see it. And I liked it. It’s a story with depth, relevant context, beautiful production values, and Denzel, as always, is fantastic and easy on the eyes.
Verdict: Stupid 1995 moviegoers.

11. SINK THE BISMARK!

This is a decent WWII film about the British attempt to sink the legendary German battleship Bismarck. Concentrates on logistics more than character, so I found it to be a little unengaging at times, but overall, it was interesting and the cast was good.
Verdict: Pretty good if you like WWII movies, but not exactly memorable.

12. ENDLESS SUMMER

I love the ocean, and love looking at videos of big waves, so I tuned in. The waves aren’t that big, but it’s a fun ride nonetheless, perhaps a little long, but the nostalgia is fun, the scenery is pretty, and the travelogue aspect is more interesting than I thought (and more politically incorrect than you’d ever see in a film today).
Verdict: Not bad.

7. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)

A genuinely great and genuinely weird film. There’s absolutely nothing like it. Robert Mitchum’s unforgettable performance is justly lauded (see above), but I also loved Lillian Gish’s avenging angel to his roaring lion of a devil.
Verdict: It’s a damn shame Charles Laughton never directed another film.

8. BECKET (1964)

When Peter O’ Toole goes full Peter O’ Toole, no one stands a chance. Not even Richard Burton, who is very good and nuanced and interesting. But he’s no Peter O’ Toole. No one was, is, or likely ever will be again.
Verdict: Good stuff, although it does lose some steam when Burton gets religion.

9. GALAXY INVADER (1985)

Alien makes the mistake of landing in redneck country. Trashy, low-budget shenanigans ensue. That’s really all there is to say here.
Verdict: The Rifftrax version above is hilarious. If you’re going to spend time watching an alien-redneck movie, this is the way to do it.

4. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)

If I was forced to move to Mars and could only take 5 movies with me, this would be one of them. And this marvelous swordfight is one of the reasons why. This movie is an absolute joy and a treat for the eyes unlike any other. Truly, it is one of the perfect things in life. If you somehow have not seen it, please correct this error as soon as possible.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame

5. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Lavish adaptation of the Shakespearean battle of the sexes is somewhat bloated but is worth seeing for Burton’s freewheeling performance. That’s all I’ve got to say about it, really. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t terrible.
Verdict: Elizabeth Taylor is not my favorite actress and there’s a hell of a lot of her in this movie.

6. A MAN CALLED OVE

Just a low-key, lovely movie with a marvelous performance by Rolf Lassgard in the title role. That’s really all I’ve got to say about it. You’ve seen this movie 100 times, although probably not in Swedish.
Verdict: It’s very familiar, so it always comes down to who is playing the Old Guy Who Is a Hidden Softy. And this movie has that nailed, so it works.

1. GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955)

Fun sequel to the original. There’s a wacky jailbreak subplot that’s literally the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen put to film, but weirdly, it just makes me like this movie more. it’s just that kind of flick. Fun for the faithful.
Verdict: There’s no Japanese monster movie that I’m not totally OK with.

2. THE NAME OF THE ROSE (1986)

Excellently done, highly atmospheric Medieval mystery with a heaping helping of theology and philosophy thrown in for good measure. Features a enormously underrated performance by Sean Connery — he’s excellent and still smokin’ even when dressed as a monk. But I digress. This is good, unique, thoughtful stuff.
Verdict: Definitely recommended.

3. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP (1958)

3. Run Silent, Run Deep (1958)

This classic submarine flick is absolutely sensational in every respect. The production is sweaty and claustrophobic, the writing is top-notch, and the acting from the entire cast is excellent. Clark Gable, in particular, is fantastic and gives a complex and nuanced that refuses to conform to the tropes of the genre. Most highly recommended.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame.